Electric striker system for chimes



May 24, 1949. M. F. MILL'R ELECTRIC STRIKER SYSTEM FOR CHIMES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 3, 1946 K f 0 QX m uk. .ma if, VM f f@ ff//f/N/ m a E R QEQ wb ukm o v 4 M uw, mmw wm, Nm. mm.

QN S S N Arme/v5 May 24,1949. M F, MILLER 2,470,821

ELECTRIC STRIKER SYSTEM FOR CHIMES Patented May 24, 1949 UNITED STATES 7 Claims.

This invention relates to sound producing apparatus in general and particularly to signals of the type having electrically operated striker plungers for movement toward the bars that are closely associated with hollow tubes.

The important object of this invention is to provide a striker system for chimes or the like provided with a freely reciprocable striker plunger that is mounted under the influence oi magnetic lines of force created by the energization of at least two coils, one of which positions the said striker plunger with respect to the bar associated therewith, while the remaining coil motivates the plunger at a time when the first mentioned coil is not operative.

A further aim of this invention is the provision of a striker system for chimes having therein and as a part thereof a specially formed striker plunger, the character whereof is such as to cooperate with a pair of coils and asso ciated bars to insure the creation of a sound of a Xed predetermined character.

A yet further object of my invention is the provision of a striker system for chimes having a pair of tubes in juxtaposition with a number oi bars of different lengths whereby each tube has formed therein a number of chambers to cooperate with each of the bars for the purpose of minimizing the number of tubes constituting the chime assembly.

Further aims of the invention are to provide a striker system for chimes that is easily and quickly adjustable by the person installing the chimes; that is capable of being tuned by relatively shifting easily accessible parts of the chime system; and that is devoid of springs or other yieldable means having an influence upon the striker plunger.

Other aims of the invention and the manner in which the parts of the striker system operate to produce novel results through a minimum number of elements will appear during the course of the following specication referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view oi a striker system for chimes made in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line II-II of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view through the end portion of a striker 2 plunger forming a part of the assembly illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a similar sectional view illustrating a modified form of a plunger for the striker system.

Fig. t? is a front elevational view of a striker system for chimes illustrating the manner in which a number of bars may be used for a pair of tubes; and

Fig. '7 is a sectional View taken on line VII- VII of Fig. 6.

It has long been known that the employment of springs or other retrieving resilient elements in a striker system for chimes is objectionable and establishes an uncertain factor because the movement of the striker plunger is not constant and does not, therefore, engage the associated bars with the same amount of force each time the striker system is operated. The relatively simple expedients forming a part of the striker system shown in the accompanying drawing and which are capable of setting the striker plunger each time the chime is operated, will produce an exceptionally desirable unit.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, comprises a base it upon which is mounted a pair of brackets I'2 slotted as at Eli to adjustably receive screws It that enter base it. Brackets I 2 are preferably from iron or other material that is highly pervious to magnetism. There are two brackets and each carries a bar l 8 disposed adjacent to a cooperating hollow tube 2li that likewise is retained in operative position by the corresponding bracket i2.

An opening 22 formed in the side wali oi each tube 2t performs the usual function as is well known in the art. A Xture 2li secured to base it supports a brass tube 25 within which striker piunger 28 is reciprocably mounted. A coil 33 is on one end of tube 26 and a coil 52 is at the other end of said tube. One of the coils may be fixed directly to tube 26 and for purpose of illustration, coil 35i has been so shown. Coil 32 is provided with a sleeve 34 that circumscribes tube 2S and it is this sleeve Sli that directly carries coil 32.

A set screw tti in sleeve 34 may be manipulated to adjust coil 32 with respect to coil 3S. The ends of coils 39 and 32 are shielded by walis Si? preferably made of non-metallic material or other substance that is not greatly pervious to magnetic lines of force. This structure is im portant because it is desired that the said lines of force created by the energization of these coils should be conned to the space between the walls 38 to effectively act upon specially constru-cted striker plunger 23.

Striker plunger 28 lies between bars I8, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 and each end strikes a bar when a master switch 40 is moved to successively close points Ilz, 44 and 46 thereof. Point i8 on the swingable arm of switch lll) contacts these points 42, 44 and i6 in a manner hereinafter to be described. The source of current in this instance is a battery and Wires or suitable conductors create the circuit which includes the source of energy and switch 40 with all its component parts. It also includes the two coils 3i! and 32.

Striker plunger 23 is specially designed with reference to coils Ell and 32 in that it has two sections numbered 52 and 5t respectively of .inagnetic material that are attracted by the magnetic lines of force established when the coils 3&3 and 32 are energized. The length of these sections 52 and 54 is substantially the same as the length ci the said coils for the reasons more fully herein.- after to be described.

The interconnecting..portion of plunger 22;. between sections 52 and 513 is of non-magnetic material. likewise, the-tips 5B and 5S at the ends of plunger- 28 are held in 4position by identical collars Bl) that are of non-magnetic substance. Reference to Fig. 5v will teach the Amanner in which tips 5S and 58 are held in `place on plunger 28 to obtain the reboundnecessary in the contemplated functioningofthe striker system.

`Tip 58 is of leather or`analogous fibrous substance and a resilient disk 62 is interposed between the innerend of 4tip 56 or 58 and the outer end of section 52 or 54 as the case may be.

Collar El) bridges the resilient disk e2 and eX- tends over a portionof the length of tip 5S or 52 as well as over a portion of the adjacentsection 52 or 54 respectively of plunger 28.

In the modified-.form of the plunger shown in Fig. 4, tip 65 is likewise of. leather and disk Gt is of rubber or similar resilient material. Section 68 of magnetic substance, isconfined within a tube lo of nonmagneticmaterial which serves the function of holding together the section ES, disk 66 and tip 6A.

After screws it have Vbeen tightened to hold brackets l2 in the adjusted position and thereby to maintain bars |8 in such spaced condition as will suitthe desire of thegoperator, coil 32 .may be ,shifted along the length of tube 2S by manipulating set screw 35 as such is needed. When the system is electrically assembled, as shown in Fig. 2, a movement of switch 4|! to contact point :i2 will energize coil 32 through the simple wiring circuit illustrated, whereupon `plunger 28 will be set because section 52 of plunger 28 will be centered between walls 38 of-coil 32V due to localizing the magnetic lines of force. When switch 4t continues to be manipulated and point 458 reaches point 54, coil-'32 will be (ie-energized and coil will be energized to cause plunger E8 to move quickly to the right as viewed in Fig. 3. Such movement is established by virtue of the magnetic pull upon section 54 by the lines of force conned between walls 3S. This quick shifting of plunger 28 will establish a suilcient amount oi momentum to cause the plunger to move beyond the confines of coil til where tip 5S will strike bar I8 to vibrate the same. Continued movement of switch El to close contacts. l5 and 133 will cause deenergization of coil 3U and energization or coil 32, whereupon section 52 of plunger 28 will be attracted and tip; 56 will be forced .against the proximal bar I8 in the manner just set forth. Switch 4U is rotatable, and while it is being returned to its point of beginning, neither of the coils will be energized and plunger 23 will come to rest wherever the rebounding force happens to dictate.

From the immediate foregoing, it will be clear that a denite setting of plunger 28 is always established when switch lill is being moved through its cycle. A definitely constant amount of force is always insured therefore, to cause plunger 23 to strike the bars i3 with precisely the same character of impact and, therefore, a like sound is always assured.

The form of the striker system illustrated in Figs. 6 and 'l embodies the principles as above specified but permits the construction of a chime that will produce a number of different sounds greater than the number of tubes utilized. in the form shown, a tube lull .is divided into a chamber |82 and a chamber lull` adjacent to each of which is mounted a bar |06 and M38 respectively, the vi brations whereof are transmitted to chambers |62 and IEM. through openings il@ and H2 rcspectively. A partition l5 in tube lil@ segregates chambers |82 and` lilll and a shiitable partition H6 at one end of tube illu and within chamber m2, permits varying the length of this said chamn ber and a movable partition H8 in chamber litri likewise allows varying the cubical capacity thereof.

A tube |26 isdivided into .two effective chambers |22 and |212 respectively. Partitions |23 within tube l2@ setoff these. chambersand openings |28 and |39 respectively permit vibrations from bars |32 and |34 to enter the chambers adjacent thereto. Thus, 4a chime .assembly which appears to have but two `tubes may create four distinct sounds in the order desired and as dictated through the wiring of a number of coils. Coils |36 and |38 are mounted ,upon a bracket itt* carried by base |552. The plunger ill-fi which is actuated by these coils |35., and |38 strikesbar |32 when coil |38 is energized and after coil i3@ been energized to set plunger ,lili precisely the same manner as described with. respect to Fig. 3. Coils |1115 and |48 carry plimger v le@ and this plunger is positioned to strike bar |63 as above mentioned. In this instance, however, coil |48 is the setting coil and coil l@ is the driving coil. Coilslfili and Mii are mounted .upon a bracket |52 through the `medium of a setscrew and slot construction ltrand E5@ respectively to allow shifting of the coils toward and from each other. Such shifting of course, will be lwith respect to the magneticsections 52 and 5d of the plunger and will determine the amount lof force with which the plunger strikes bar it. Coils |36 and |38 are mounted in precisely the same manner as are coils |66 and Hi8. Coils i553 and |60 carry plunger |62 to strike bar |88 and coils |64 and |56 carry plunger |63 to strike bar i3d.

The operation` of these coils and the manner of setting their associated plunger is the same as above set down. Thus, it will be clear that a chime assembly having but a pair of tubes may be caused to create at least four distinct tones and these tones may be tuned to suit the whims or conditions confronting the operator. No springs or other resilient means for holding the various plungers are used and a positively electrical setting is assured prior to forcing the plunger against its related bar.

It will be clear. from the foregoing that striker systems for chimes and chime assemblies erwidely varying characteristics may be made to embody this invention, all without departing from the spirit thereof and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what `I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a striker system for chimes comprising a base; a resonant tube and chime bar assembly carried by the base; a pair of coils on the base to one side of the chime bar; and a striker plunger extending into and under the influence of the coils, one of the coils serving, upOn energization thereof, to set the plunger in a predetermined position prior to its movement against the chime bar.

2. In a striker system for chimes comprising a base; a resonant tube and chime bar assembly carried by the base; a pair of coils on the base to one side of the chime bar; and a striker plunger extending into and under the iniiuence of the coils, said striker plunger having a pair of spaced apart sections of magnetizable material, the lengths of said sections being substantially the same as the lengths of the respective associated coils, the distance between the said sections being less than the distance between th coils whereby when one section is in alignment with a coil the remaining section is offset with respect to theother coil.

3. In a striker system for chimes, a plunger comprising a metallic body; a tip of non-dampening substance on the end of the body; a pad of resilient material interposed between the end of the body and said tip; and a tubular element rigid to the body and extending longitudinally therefrom to circumscribe the said pad and a portion of the tip.

4. In a striker system for chimes comprising a base; a pair of resonant tube and chime bar assemblies carried by the base in spaced apart relation, with the chime bars of the assemblies substantially parallel; a reciprocable striker plunger disposed between the bars with its axis substantially perpendicular to said bars; a pair of coils circumscribing the plunger for reciprocating the latter upon alternate energiZation thereof; an electric circuit for said coils; and a switch for successively closing the circuit :to set the plunger at a predetermined position upon energization of one coil, moving the plunger against one chime bar upon energization of the other coil, and moving the plunger against the other chime bar as the one coil is again energized.

5. In a striker system for chimes comprising a base; a pair of resonant tube and chime bar assemblies carried by the base in spaced apart relation, with the chime bars of the assemblies substantially parallel; a reciprocable striker plunger disposed between the chime bars with its axis substantially perpendicular to said chime bars; a pair of coils circumscribing the plunger for reciprocating the latter upon alternate energization thereof, said plunger being freely slidable within the coils; an electric ciruit for said coils; and a switch for successively closing the circuit to set the plunger at a predetermined position upon energization of one coil, moving the plunger against one chime bar upon energization of the other coil, and moving the plunger against the other chime bar as the one coil is again energized.

6. In a striker system for chimes comprising a base; a pair of resonant tube and chime bar assemblies carried by the base in spaced apart relation, with the chime bars of the assemblies substantially parallel; a reciprocable striker plunger disposed between the chime bars with its axis substantially perpendicular to said chime bars; and a pair of coils circumscribing the plunger for reciprocating the latter lupon alternate energization thereof, one of said coils being joined to a source of current to set the plunger in a predetermined position prior to its movement toward one of the chime bars to strike the same, the other coil being joined to said source of current to move the plunger from said position against said one chime bar.

7. In a striker system for chimes comprising a base; a pair of resonant tube and chime bar assemblies carried by the base in spaced apart relation, with the chime bars of the assemblies.

substantially parallel; a reciprocable striker plunger disposed between the chime bars; a pair of coils circumscribing the plunger for reciprocating the latter upon alternate energization thereof, the other coil being joined to said source of current to move the plunger from said source of current to move the plunger from said position against said one chime bar; and means for energizing said one coil to move the plunger from said one chime against the other chime bar.

MlILO F. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,177,515 Bossard Oct. 24, 1939 2,220,979 Swanson Nov. 12, 1940 2,225,558 Edwards Dec. 17, 1940 2,265,815 Rittenhouse Dec. 9, 1941 2,265,816 Rittenhouse Dec. 9, 1941 2,386,738 Corbett Oct. 9, 1945 

